There's an interesting paper by Hord and colleagues that showed how a secondary math teacher supported a student with LD and math anxiety using gestures. Gestures can sometimes be used to help remember and retrieve math actions and relationships in long-term memory....
![Dyslexia and Music [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Dyslexia-and-Music-da-400x250.jpg)
“I’m dyslexic, so the notes just jump out at me. It’s the same with words too. That’s why the Key Editor in Cubase is the best thing for me as I see things in shapes and colors.” — Grammy Award-winning composer producer Lorne Balfe Here in the United States, it’s pretty uncommon to hear about dyslexia and music from the research community, but for some it’s a huge part of their lives and challenges (especially with music reading) have been noted by many. LOVING MUSIC BUT DIFFICULTY READING BY SIGHT Just as as some people love listening to stories, but avoid reading print books, many dyslexics love listening or playing music by ear but struggle with reading by sight; some may not be able to […]
![Understanding Dyslexia as an Adult [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/dyslexic-advantage-cambridge-400x250.png)
When I listened to music, I used to get really frustrated because I could never understand the words of a song that I had just heard for the first time… then I reread my report: “Isla struggles with auditory processing.” Now, I understand…that makes a lot of sense, something that I hadn’t thought about, which is why I think it’s so important.” – Isla McDade-Brown When Dr. Brock Eide was in England, he met up with young filmmaker Isla McDade-Brown from the University of York who was filming a documentary for her final Film and Television dissertation. Isla was identified with dyslexia at the age of eight, but now as a final year college student, she was reading her assessment as an adult and reflecting […]
![Florence Welch + The Machine Singer-Songwriter [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Florence-Welch-Dyslexic-Advantage.jpg)
“Being a creative person and getting older, and wiser, has been an awakening. The older I get, the more self-assured I feel and the more confident I feel in my work and in life.” — Florence Welch Florence Welch is an English singer-songwriter who writes and sings songs that are steeped in folklore and fantasy imagery. She has spoken both about her dyslexia and dyspraxia in various interviews. Florence became a pop star at the age of 21 when she was discovered singing in a club bathroom. She would go on to have Grammy nominations and platinum records, but also had some tumultuous times with heartbreak. One of her breakthrough songs was Ship to Wreck (lyrics), after the breakup of a long term relationship. […]
"Jershika dedicated her song to the fourth and fifth grade teachers who helped Maple discover she had dyslexia, and it was filled with emotion and power..." — Taste of Country Jershika Maple described the alienation she felt as a 4th grader in Louisiana...
“To me, life is a gift, and it’s a blessing to just be alive. And each person should learn what a gift it is to be alive no matter how tough things get.” — Tony Bennett Tony Bennett really sounds great at 95 years old. Check out his duets with Lady Gaga below. After two sell out concerts at Radio Music Hall in New York City, though, his doctor has finally convinced him to retire. Tony’s won 20 Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award, two Primetime Emmys and was honored as both an NEA Jazz Master and Kennedy Center Honoree. He’s sold over 50 million records worldwide. Tony grew up during the Great Depression and lost his father when he was 10 years old. […]
![Music And Dyslexia: Chat with Sally Daunt, Chair of the Music Committee of the BDA [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Music-400x250.jpg)
Recently, I had a wonderful opportunity to chat with Sally Daunt, Chairwoman of the Music Committee of the British Dyslexia Association. We had been corresponding about dyslexia and choral groups and Sally had asked about how dyslexic strengths can manifest themselves in choral groups where singers had to fit into tightly controlled schedules of music, extensive sight reading, and music performances which could have limited opportunities for musical interpretation. From my discussion with Sally: “Many dyslexic musicians have difficulty with sight reading – and perhaps cathedral choirs might consider whether an absolute requirement is necessary in the audition process. Some who have difficulty with sight reading might be able to pick music up quite quickly having heard a version once. In theater companies, […]
What is the connection between dyslexia and music? If you ask some families, dyslexia and musical talent go hand-in-hand. There can also be challenges in music, in particular with reading music; however, the strengths can be seen in areas such as musicality,...
"I struggled so much at school with dyslexia, and I really found it so difficult in so many ways. When I found music, it just became an anchor that got me through the hardest school years...I couldn’t read music, and all my music teachers gave up on me one by one...
![Understanding Processing Speed and Dyslexia [Premium]](https://www.dyslexicadvantage.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/shutterstock_111687563.jpg)
When families come together to discuss test scores, no group of scores surprises them as much as “Processing Speed.” Processing Speed scores on psychometric exams might mean Coding and Symbol Search scores on the WISC intelligence exams or Visual Matching and Paired Cancellation on the Woodcock Johnson. Processing Speed scores on these subtests are typically lower for dyslexic students, but on other tasks like Decision Making and in real life, these students may be quite quick and even quicker than their peers at various tasks such as insight-based problem solving or situational awareness (helpful for athletics, for instance). Understanding the true significance of Processing Speed Difference in Dyslexia, then is important not only for recognizing when accommodations may be appropriate school, but also for identifying […]
"It was such a turning point to find that I had a talent and I had something to contribute, somewhere." - Gwen Stefani, singer, songwriter, fashion designer, actress As a child, Gwen was very creative, performing puppet shows for friends and neighbors with her...
